About Vaude Astra II Backpack - 55+10

Closeouts. Extended tours in the backcountry call for a durable, efficient and comfortable pack, and Vaude's Astra II backpack certainly fits the bill. The Tergolight adjustable suspension allows explorers to customize their fit for maximum performance, and a host of rugged materials combine to combat the elements and resist wear and tear.

Reviewed by The Hiking Pawnbroker from FightNGear . Com on Friday, May 16, 2014

I was a little nervous ordering this pack. But it was so cheap I just had to. There are very few reviews or information online about it. I thought it was just too low of a price for it to be high quality. I was wrong. The zippers are great and do not snag and the compartments while not plentifu...
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Your search for "" returned reviews for Vaude-Astra-II-Backpack-55-plus-10

A great pack made by a small German company that knows mountains. (Check them out at http://www.vaude.com/en-FI/home/ )

Hiked Mt Adams with it. It was comfortable right out of the box (I'm 6' tall, slim built and it can fit smaller or bigger folks. Mine was set to L/M)
It can carry a lot of gear for a few days hiking in the backcountry. Has quite a few adjusting straps that are easy to get to, white walking too, and they stay put with no need to re adjust frequently.

Can add more space with an add'l 10L to the main compartment. The top pockets can store a lot too.

When extra space is not in use, the pack feels compact.

Will recommend it in a heart beat and the price is great for what you get.

Pros: +2 stars
Very inexpensive pack for its size. No glaring design problems, would be an ok first pack. Plenty of belts and loops for hanging items. Separate zippered bottom compartment is a nice feature. Pockets are well placed. More compression straps (and strap length) than you'll know what to do with! The fabric is thick and sturdy.

Cons: -3 stars
This pack is not built for a man with a remotely wide neck. I am not a big man (15.5 inch neck), but the shoulder straps dug into the sides of my neck to the point of pain. The straps are simply too close together, and have no ability to spread them wider apart. The torso length sizing device is easy to use and effective, BUT the mechanism is a large lump on the back of the pack. It's slightly padded, but after awhile it begins to dig into your back. The waist belt and shoulder strap material easily collects dirt and sweat, and is very abrasive on bare skin. Plan on wearing a t-shirt (no tank tops). Compared to the name brand packs, the zippers and buckles are cheap and clunky. I wouldn't expect them to last very long. The side pockets will not fit a Nalgene bottle. Little ventilation in the back. Back padding is unnecessarily thick so it traps moisture and heat.

Final thoughts: If you have a small neck and back this pack would make an OK inexpensive first pack.

Verified Buyer
Reviewed by Julie the cruise director from Kalamazoo, MI on Monday, October 13, 2014

Very pleased with this Vaude pack. Not too many pockets that stick out to get caught on things if using it as a carry-on or checked bag for trips, and still has everything you need. More of a chili red than orange. You definitely won't be missed holding this pack. Easy to fit with the STP backpack fitting guide video, and has a couple of pockets on the waist belt which only the nicer packs have, Great quality for the price.

Verified Buyer
Reviewed by NC gal from North Carolina on Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Besides getting a GREAT deal on this bag, I'm going to use it as my carry on for an upcoming trip and will save an additional $50.00 in baggage fees ! I REFUSE to give the airlines money for my bags and although I have a small suitcase, I didn't think I'd be able to lift it over my head and into the overhead bin on the plane.BINGO ! Use a backpack ! It's lighter than a suitcase with just as much room, even more so, and I can handle it much better. This pack has separate compartments which will help with packing. Can't wait to use it !

Verified Buyer
Reviewed by J- Wilderness from Vermont on Thursday, July 24, 2014

The Vaude Astra II is a comfortable pack which has ample capacity. It is not an extra-large bag, but it is sufficient to hold a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, cooking gear, food, hammock and stove for a 3-4 day remote camping trip. I did not need to adjust the belt and shoulder straps, the bag fit me well as-is.

Answer
Yes it does,one on each side. This way you're not packing everything into a big hole that can only be accessed from the top. I'm using it at the moment on a trip and it's great.

Answered on 8/18/2014 7:40:26 PM by NC gal from North Carolina

Answer
It does not have side zippers. It does have a zipper access from the front of the pack that is double zippered with a great Velcro attachment at the top. The side have storage compartments that would stop access. I find this much easier to get in and out of than the side access like my other pack has.

Answered on 8/18/2014 9:17:09 PM by The Hiking Pawnbroker from Missouri

Answer
I have no idea. I am a 40-42 depending on the way I am dressed and really don't know. The padding measures out at 29" and it looks like it would cinch right down to that. I would say a 30" waist would work, but like I say I really am just guessing.

Answered on 7/27/2014 4:42:01 PM by The Hiking Pawnbroker from Springfield Mo

Answer
It has a big internal dedicated hydration sleeve with a hanger clip. It comes out on the right hand side which I prefer because I use a trekking pole in my left. I am not sure how large of a bladder it will hold, but my little 2 liter is not close to maxing it out. I would say it will hold a 100 oz. plus easily.